أَلا يا لَيلُ إِن مُلِّكتِ فينا

خِيارَكِ فَاِنظُري لِمَنِ الخِيارُ

Oh night, if you have ruled over us,

Look at who is the best among us,

وَلا تَستَبدِلي مِنّي دَنِيّاً

وَلا بَرَماً إِذا حُبَّ القَتارُ

Do not replace me with someone lowly,

Or with a coward when the valiant love.

يُهَروِلُ في الصَغيرِ إِذا رَآهُ

وَتُعجِزُهُ مُلِمّاتٌ كِبارُ

He frolics with the insignificant when he sees him,

And the great overwhelm him.

فَمِثلُ تَأَيُّمٍ مِنهُ نِكاحٌ

وَمِثلُ تَمَوُّلٍ مِنهُ اِفتِقارُ

So to be widowed by him is like marrying him,

And to be wealthy because of him is like being in need of him.